Santa Monica, a Lifelong Learning Community

Lifelong Learning Community News - AUGUST 2007...

I think I’ll take advantage of the summer lull to fill you in on some of what’s been happening at Santa Monica College this past year....

For the 16th consecutive year, Santa Monica College remains the #1 community college in California for transfers to the UC system. SMC was also the leader in transfers to the UC-California State University systems combined, as well as the #1 transfer school for Latinos to the UC system. This year (and this work will continue into the foreseeable future), SMC is building upon this record of achievement in multiple (but here are a few) ways:

Students as Global Citizens and Environmental StewardsCollege faculty, staff, and students are working to infuse and enrich the curriculum so that SMC graduates will be informed and knowledgeable as global citizens and environmental stewards. SMC recently completed an extensive and well-received Environmental Audit which you can read online at http://www.smc.edu/ceus/GreenCampus.htm. The Environmental Audit recommends the development of an Associate of the Arts (AA) degree in Environmental Studies as well as recommendations that will inform institutional and facility planning, maintenance and operations. SMC will also begin implementing a new smoke-free campus policy this fall.

Expanded Career/Tech Opportunities (formerly known as Vocational Education or Trade Tech)
SMC is working to expand and/or enhance career tech opportunities for students who wish to join the workforce and/or to upgrade the skills of students already in the workforce. These programs also include a focus on meeting the needs of our local businesses and industries. SMC recently received two state grants. A $427,500 logistics grant will provide training in the logistics industry which is the second largest employment sector in the U.S. and growing. An “advanced transportation” grant for $437,500 was awarded to train technicians and managers at the Big Blue Bus and Culver City Transit in hybrid technology, and alternative fuels as our bus companies shift to using more alternative-fuel buses. For more information on these recently awarded grants, please go to http://www.smc.edu/news/Archive/2007/July11.htm

Transportation ManagementSMC purchased a new shuttle lot  the Olympic Lot  which will open August 27th for the fall semester and will be served by the Sunset Ride, one of several Big Blue Bus service improvements made possible by a new partnership between SMC and the Big Blue Bus. In an effort to encourage students and staff to use public transit rather than driving themselves, SMC will pay for SMC students and staff to ride the BBB for no charge. The partnership also enables the BBB to expand services for residents too in hopes of building a more viable and appealing public transit system for everyone. For more information, please go to http://www.smc.edu/news/Archive/2007/July30.htm

Partnership with SMMUSDIn May, SMC and SMMUSD signed a memorandum of understanding to work more closely together to better meet the needs of current high school students. This past school year about 500 Santa Monica Malibu current high school students took one or more classes from SMC. This past summer, 375 students, including students from Santa Monica High School, Saint Monica’s, Crossroads, and Malibu took an SMC class. High school students who enroll in classes at SMC can receive both high school and college credits.

Music Department moving to Madison for fall semesterThe striking new SMC theater on the Madison campus is nearing completion but first, the Music Department is moving from the Main Campus to the Madison campus for the fall semester. The upgraded original building now has state of the art practice rooms and classrooms as well as theater space. It is a thrilling new facility for SMC music students! For more details, please go to http://www.smc.edu/news/Archive/2007/July9.htm.

Main Theater and Studio Space now open on the Main CampusA new Theater Arts building on the Main Campus opened last September and it has two performance spaces, the Main Stage and the Studio Space. I recently attended “The Kiss of the Spider Woman” at the Main Stage and was very impressed by the high quality and professionalism of both the performance and the space. Be sure to attend some of the upcoming productions. A listing of upcoming productions is posted at http://www.smc.edu/theatre/. Current productions are posted at http://events.smc.edu/theater.html. Now playing in the Studio Space:

Help a Child. Become a Tutor.Volunteer tutors help change children's lives. Research shows most students who fall behind in reading do not catch up after age 9, so intervention before then is crucial. Volunteer tutors meet weekly, one-on-one, to help underperforming children in kindergarten through 5th grade in Santa Monica schools to build their learning confidence, meet State literacy standards and improve overall school performance. No prior experience is needed, and it only takes one hour per week. Call WISE Senior Services at 310-394-9871 ext. 452 or email spennoyer@wiseseniors.org

Thursday, August 2, 7:30pm2007 Twilight Dance Series: Queen Ida and her Zydeco Band w/ Hacienda BrothersSanta Monica Pier
FreeYou can now subscribe online to receive updates on the Twilight Dance Series held every Thursday night during the summer on the Santa Monica Pier by going to http://www.twilightdance.org/Tuesday, August 7, from 6-8 pm Santa Monica Police National Night Out against Crimein front of the Public Safety Facility, 333 Olympic Drive.
Free
National Night Out is back with a twist. The Santa Monica Police Department and Chief Timothy Jackman are hosting a 1950s style party. Celebrating the lowest crime rate since 1956, the National Night Out Block Party will include entertainment by The Wonderelles, an all female group, who will perform a 50s revue, contests & games for the kids and lots of free food & prizes.

For more information, please call the S.M.P.D. Community Relations Unit at (310) 458-8474 or visit our website at www.santamonicapd.orgWebsites to Bookmark:

The Santa Monica Art PaletteEvery week the City of Santa Monica Community and Cultural Affairs Department posts a listing of art openings, exhibitions, and special events in Santa Monica. If you would like to receive this weekly update, please send a blank e-mail with the word "Subscribe" in the subject line to: artpalette.mailbox@smgov.net or look online at http://www.smgov.net/ccs/palette/
Santa Monica Public LibraryOur public libraries (and especially our beautiful new Main Library) have a wonderful and wide array of great programming. In fact, there is so much that I’ve given up trying to list it all on the Lifelong Learning Community Calendar. So, please bookmark these pages and visit them regularly!!